Mariko Yamada, D-Solano, has comfortable lead for Assembly

A Democrat and lifelong social worker is poised to land her third term in the state Assembly as unofficial election returns indicate that incumbent Mariko Yamada, D-Solano, holds the lead in the race for the newly created 4th Assembly District.

Yamada is currently serving her second term representing the 8th Assembly District. The district lines changed with redistricting, and Yamada appears to be heading back to the state Assembly for her third and final term, representing a district that includes all or parts of six counties: Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo.

As of 11:45 p.m., according to the Secretary of State's website, Yamada held a comfortable lead over her Republican challenger, John Munn, with 59,103 votes reported, or 60 percent, compared to Munn's 39,624 votes, or 40 percent.

Yamada could not be reached for comment.

Munn, who retired from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Sacramento, where he worked as a soil and watershed scientist for 25 years, was outspent by more than 2 to 1 during the campaign season.

Since Jan. 1, Yamada has raised $129,767 to Munn's $82,124. She has spent $246,800, while Munn has spent $103,410 on his campaign.

With many precincts left to be reported, Munn remained hopeful that the later voters would cast their ballot for him.

"So far, I guess I don't know one way or the other," Munn said. "I'm just going to have to wait and see how it turns out."

Both candidates hail from Davis, but expressed different views on job creation.

A proponent of "green jobs," Yamada said she supports the state's high-speed rail project, stating that the two areas will not just spur job growth in the near term, but for future generations. She is also focused on the needs of veterans, seniors and dependent adults.

Munn's campaign targeted over-regulation as a reason for jobs being driven out of the state. Munn also took a position against higher taxes as a means of generating state revenues and associates that with hampering job growth.